What were the roles of Navajo children?

Answer 1

The Navajo have a very different and larger sense of personal autonomy than most American families. From the time a child first laughs it is seen as a fully autonomous being. This means parents explain things and teach things but do not order children to do things (or anyone else). It is thought that they can learn from their own mistakes better. So children are and were seldom scolded. If there was any discipline it was often done by your mother's brother (maternal uncle) not your father. You belong to your mother's clan. It is said you are "born for" you father's clan. A child is expected to gradually learn what it is to understand clan and family relationships and the relationships to the world. This is called K'e. A child is expected to slowly learn to moderate and control his/her emotions and speech and actions. To be balanced and moderate. To not be able to control them is a sign of being a child. Teaching was and still is seldom done with direct instruction but more with indirect stories. Children are expected to not be lazy, to get up at dawn and help out and to not complain. As they get bigger they were and sometimes today still learn to help out with the sheep and planting and growing corn and other crops. As they get bigger if they were a girl they might learn to help with shearing, sorting, cleaning, carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving the wool. If they were a boy if their father did silverwork or another craft or was a ritual practitioner they might learn to help out. In the older days they would learn to hunt. They would catch rabbits and other small game as kids. today some people still hunt in the mountains but with rifles. They would learn prayers and chants and songs and taboos. Some people still do. About 30-40% are now only christian so they don't today. Everyone is expected to slowly learn how to create and maintain Hozho in their inner and outer worlds. This central Navajo concept encompasses in one word the English ideas of harmony, beauty, the good, health, happiness, and balance. It is both a way to seeing and thinking about the world and a thing to be created. For this reason, perhaps the majority of Navajo take part in some art or craft.
I would like to note that the word "were" is not really appropriate and most Navajo kids would not like it. They ARE. There are 300,000 enrolled Navajo members and most live on or near the Navajo Nation which is where is always has been in the modern states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. There are many school on the Navajo Nation and all kids go to K though 12. There is also Dine' college and several other schools for after 12th grade.